Over past 1,700,000 years, we human beings have survived with adapting ourselves to the natural selection of climate change. This fact is possibly under the conditional premises of appropriate management and use for natural resources. It is not always sole solution that we preserve the nature simply intact state. It also does not guarantee the survival of human being. As the new pressure from nature occurs, it is needed that appropriate adaption and management.
You may find out the validity of this project on the basis of national adaption against the pressure of natural selection named of 'climate change'. The gist is as follows. That is, we will secure the water retention in respective aquatic systems by new constructions of dams, weirs with functions controlling water level, and building the existing reservoirs higher.
Therefore that can result in the secure of water self-sufficiency system and the prevention of future water disasters as like flood and drought so that we could take more opportunities of efficient and practical use on the increasing water resources.
Though it gives more or less differences, the final view of the project can be like the present aquatic system of the Han River. Except to the short section from the Chungju dam to Yeoju, the main stream of the Han River is a huge water vessel continued with its dams and weirs. For all that we exclude the Geumgangsan dam and the Peace dam, the water flows descended from Hwacheon, Chuncheon, Soyang, Cheongpyeong, Chungju, and Hoengseong dam meet altogether at the Paldang dam to be continued to the Jamsil and Singok underwater weirs.
Especially the Chungju dam and Soyang dam are not only the core facilities of flood control and water quality improvement but also an uncontaminated water source of energy. It is undeniable that we are free from the worries about lack of water in Seoul Metropolitan Area with 24 millions of populations, and it is lucky that we have inherited to take it over to our next generation.
Of course, although there have been big losses, the regenerative capacity of nature is a wonderful thing. For example, the Paldang Lake was reborn as remarkable place with breathtakingly beautiful scenery. As to the Paldang Lake, people usually concern about whether or not its water is potable. Of course that can be important matter, by the way, there are few people aware of the lake is the biggest ecological repository in Korea. The lake provides for fifties species of fishes and not a few migratory birds including adjacent river sectors, with hundreds species of planktons, about 130 species of vascular plants, about 70 species of bottom lives. Even in the inevitable case of water retention on aquatic system, it depends on how to manage it. Though it is substituted into existing lives, the Paldang Lake is a good example which the ecosystem can be recreated in healthier basis.
KONG Dong-Soo
Prof., Dept. of Biological Science,Gyeonggi University
